GLENDORA, Calif. -- In a season that has become about growth and development for the future, the Azusa Pacific Cougars took a huge step forward on Saturday night against one of the nation's top teams. Azusa Pacific fell 49-27 to ninth-ranked Colorado School of Mines, but the Cougars would not go down without a fight.
 
How It Happened:
 
Mines opened the scoring in the first quarter, as the Orediggers found the endoze on their first possession of the game and took a 7-0 lead. Azusa Pacific would also put points on the board on its first drive, as freshman kicker Ramzee Jaridly converted a 35-yard field goal to make the score 7-3.
 
Mines answered right back, as quarterback John Matocha threw his first touchdown pass of the evening to Sean O'Dell. To open the second quarter, the Cougars cut the deficit down to 14-6, as Jaridly hit a 45-yard field goal to cap of the first drive of the second quarter.
 
The Orediggers would increase their lead again, as their next offensive possession ended with a six-yard touchdown pass from Matchoa to Josh Johnston, giving Mines a 21-6 lead with 1:42 remaining in the first half. The Orediggers' drive was 16 plays, 84-yards, and took 8:20 off of the clock.
 
To start the second half, the Cougar offense drove down the field for a 12 play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyrone Williams Jr. to receiver Jasiah Richard-Lewis. Richard-Lewis' touchdown, and the ensuing extra point, made the score 21-13 with 10:17 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Mines increased its lead to two possessions a few drives later, when Michael Zeman found the endzone from two yards out for his first of three touchdowns in the game. The Cougars would strike back just two plays later, as Williams Jr. connected with running back Gil' Scott Jackson for a 77-yard touchdown pass on a well-designed screen plau. Scott Jackson's touchdown catch, and Jaridly's PAT, brought the score to 28-20, Colorado School of Mines.
 
Once again, Mines would push the game back up to two possessions at 35-20, as Matchoa rushed for his second touchdown of the evening, and the following PAT was made. Azusa Pacific closed out the third quarter with a touchdown of their own, as Noah Bogardus caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Williams Jr., put the Cougars back into a one possession ball game.
 
With the score at 35-27, the Orediggers opened the fourth quarter with a big play from Zeman, who rushed for a 63-yard touchdown and gave Mines a 42-27 lead with 13:20 remaining in the game.  Mines added one more touchdown in the fourth, as Zeman had his third rushing touchdown of the game from one yard out. Zeman finished the game with nearly 300 rushing yards.
 
By the Numbers:
 
Offensively, both teams posted significant yardage in total offense. Mines finished with 575 total yards (395 rushing/180 passing), and Azusa Pacific had 414 total yards (342 passing yards/72 rushing). For the Cougars, Williams Jr. was 18-for-33 passing, 328 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. For the Orediggers, Matocha was 26-for-31 on completions, with 180 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
 
Mines had two rushers go for more than 100 yards, Zeman (298 yards), and Matocha, who rushed on 17 occasions and finished with 108 yards and two touchdowns. In the passing game, Mason Karp finished with eight catches for 52 yards. Defensively, Jaden Williams was the Orediggers leading tackler with seven total in the game, and RJ Phillips had six total tackles including two for a loss and a sack.
 
Azusa Pacific's leading rusher and receiver was Scott Jackson, who finished with 64 yards on nine carries through the ground game, and two receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Quentin Frazier had a game-high 12 tackles, while Siaki Alualu had eight total tackles including three tackles for loss.
 
Quotable:
 
"Our team and our guys came out and took huge steps forward tonight," said head coach Victory Santa Cruz, "I don't care what people think about me when I say this, but I celebrate moral victories. This team came out and competed against one of the nation's top teams, and we had some moments where we were in positions to win the game. Offensively, we continued to respond with big plays at key times and did not let Mines' scores go unanswered until the fourth quarter. We went toe-to-toe with one of the nation's best tonight, and it was a pivotal moment for us in this process."
 
Up Next:
 
Azusa Pacific, now 1-6 overall, will finish off the home schedule for the 2019 season this Saturday, Nov. 2. The Cougars will welcome Central Washington for a 6:30 p.m. kick-off, as the game will be Senior Night, a chance to honor the student-athletes who will be playing in front of the home crowd for the final time in their collegiate careers.